Tobacco sorting and separating machine



Pare tedS'ep -1it 9 UNITED STATES.

arzaoar ronacoo son'rme AND surname Oswald Erich Ei ssmann, Richmond,Va., assignor to. "Universelle ,Cigarettenmaschineniabflk J. O. Muellera 00., Dresden, Germany Application July s, 1936,. Serial No. 88,712

- in Germany July 81,'1935 5Claims. (oi. 131-80) Y The present inventionrelates to improvements in a tobacco sorting and separating machine ofthe type employing an air current.

An object of the present invention is to pro- 5 'vide a device forseparating heavy particles of tobacco including stems from leafparticles and simultaneously washing the'leaf particles in an airstream.

Another object is to combine a coarse sorting l devicewith a separatingdevice and in which the separation is accomplished by means of the rela-.tion between the weight of the portions of the tobacco and the velocityor the; induced air current. 4 I

II A further object is to provide a simple and readily constructedunitary machine for use in combination with a tobacco shredding machineto sort and separate the shredded particles.

In contradistinction to the above type of de- 20 vice the presentinvention aims to separate the heavy portions oftobacco such as thestems from the leaf portions which have been torn from the stems and atthe same time to sluice or wash the whole body of tobacco portions inthe ,current as of air which eifects the separation of the stems fromthe leaves. Thereafter a further separation of the leaves from thethreads, dust, etc.,

is brought about. 7 j

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

it the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will bemore particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section: taken asthrough a combination tobacco shredder and sorting and separatingmachine;

Figure 2 is a partial view in section of the portions of the shredder;and m Figure 3 shows the positioning of the teeth of the shredder inrespect to each other.

Raw leaf tobacco is fed into a hopper l which is composed of the slopingbottom plate 2 and the baflie 28. The bai'ile 20 has a vertical sideforming part of the hopper i and also a sloping 45 side which forms withthe bottom plate 2 a channel 8 which has the effect of compacting the-body oi leaves fed ,to the machine. Tobacco passing through saidchannel 3 enters a shredding chamber which is formed of a top plate 2i,

' so curved grating 8 and bottom curved gratings iii and II. In thisshredding chamber is placed a rotating comb formedby the rotatable block8 which is iournaled in opposite sides of the machine and which has atits opposite edges, comb.

55 plates 8 with blades or teeth 4 projecting beyond the edge o'f'theblock 4, all of which is shown in 1 Figure 1.

This comb block 8 is rotated in. a counterclockwise direction by themotor 22 which operates on the large pulley 28 at one side of the 5machine. Alongside of the comb and extending parallel thereto is acylindrical roller 1 journaled at opposite sides of the machineand-having on its face spaced spikes or blades-8 which are locatedo'nthe roller. I to fit into the interstices 10 between the blades 4 ofthe comb block.

. From Figure 8, it will be notedthat the teeth 4 of each set of combplates 5 on comb block 8, are arranged in staggered relation to eachother or oflset in respect to each otherin respect to 16 their circularpaths of movement.- There is a much larger number of blades 8 on theroller 1 than there are blades 4 on comb block 6. The blades 8 in eachadjacent pair are so arranged that they are also oflset from each otheror in a 20 staggered. relation in respect to their circular paths ofmovement. Roller l rotates in about twice the speed of rotation as block6. In view of the staggered relation of the blades 4 with respect toeachother and of the pairs of blades 8 with respect to each other, asthese blades inter-engage, the blades 8 first move along one side of theblades or teeth4, and the next set of blades 8 moves along the oppositeside of the blades 4. The circular paths of movement of the blades 8 and4 are so disposed that one side of a blade 8 wipes one side of a blade4, and

then the other side of that same blade 8 wipes the opposite side ofthenext offset blade 4. By such alternate action, as illustrated in Figure3, an efficient cleaning oil or elimination of such substances as wouldotherwise accumulate, re-' sults. Rawtobacco contains a certain amountof moisture which, with portions of the leaves and stems, accumulates ina scribed arrangement of blades, and as clearly shown in Figure 3. I

The roller I is rotated in a clockwise direction by the motor 22 whichturns the small pulley 5 24 located in the plane of the large pulley 23and of the materials, to be described hereafter. In

the bottom of this box 21 is placeda'removable tray I: for the abovepurpose.

V gummed state, and 0 Y which condition is obviated'by the aforesaid deRaw tobacco leaves fed in the hopper I pass through the channel 3 andare caught by blades 4 of the rotating comb block and carried downagainst the grating l0 which is concentric with the are of the comb. Theleaves .50 carried are freed from a great many impurities, such as sand,and the like, and such impurities fall through the openings in thegrating l0 and are collected upon the removabletray l2. The leavesthemselves are carried around to a position at which the more rapidlyspinning blades 8 can shred them from the stems. The stems and leavesare thrown up through the openings in the grating 9 into the separatingdevice to be described below. Such of the particles as are not thrownclear of the blades 8 through the grating 9 are carried below and thrownagainst the grating II which is concentric with the roller 1 and arefreed of a great quantity of their entrained impurities and dust. Byfriction, particles caught against the grating II will be eventuallypicked up and thrown through the grating 9 into the separator andsorter. In the lower part of the space 13, these particles are subjectedto a whirling motion which serves to clean the same.

The separator and sorter consist in a hood 28 which extends upward overthe grating 9 for a distance and then extends horizontally and isattached to a pipe H which is used to draw out air from the separatorand sorter. A suction wheel 52 or the like, draws air through theapparatus, which air enters at the channel ll. Under the hood 28 isplaced a partition 29 which extends substantially vertically and towhich is opposed below the grating 9 the short vertical wall 30 of thesupporting box 21. Partition 29 together with the vertical wall 30 formsa trap for the heavy stems of tobacco projected through grating 9. Suchstems fall between the members .29 and 30 in the channel l4 and arecollected in a suitable container placed therebeneath. Between thepartition and the grating 9, is an expandible space and the velocity ofair flow is decreased in this space which permits the relatively heavystems to iall by gravity. Such particles consist mainly in stems whichmay have very small particles of leaf still attached. The

height of the partition 29 as well as the height of the hood 28, isgoverned by the force of the air flow used, the weight of the tobacco,the de-' gree to which it is shredded and other factors which areapparent to those employing this type of device. Or, the air blast andits intensity can be regulated by a suitable valve or regulator, as 59.Thereby the suction or induced air flow at 5| may be regulated. Specialimportance is placed upon this suction action in contrast to the old useof compressed air. Beneath the hood 28 at a point beyond the top of thepartition 29,

is located a tapering receptacle having a wall 3| hinged at 32 andleaning against the top of partition 29. The opposite wall 33 isconnected to the exhaust pipe IT. The pivot 32 and the lower end of theplate or wall 33 are connected to a.

trough 34 which runs transversely of the ma chine and is open at the topand bottom. Below the trough 34 is located an enlarged chamber l3containing the rotating vanes l9 driven at low speed from the pulley 35on the end of the rotating comb block 6, by means of a connecting belt36 which passes over the pulley 31. The vanes l9 serve to keep thebottom of the conical receptacle clear and to prevent clogging bytobacco particles in the trough 3|. The vanes l9 propel thetobacco'particles downward through the chute 38 below which is placed asuitable receptacle. Extending transversely of the tapering receptacleand connected at the top to the hood 28 andat the bottom to the trough34 is a screen or sieve [6 which extends completely across the taperingrceptacle.

It will, therefore, be apparent that the particles of tobacco thrownthrough the grating 9 are caught in the air stream flowing between theshredder and the pipe ll. Such particles as are of relatively greatweight will not be able to climb over the partition 29 and so must fallthrough the channel ll into a receptacle. Certain of the particles asare sufliciently light to climb over the partition 29 on the air streamwill be thrown against the transverse screen I6 and others will descendinto trough 34, while others will pass through the screen. The particleswhich are thrown against the screen l5 will be held there for a'shortspace of time and will be blown clean of practically all of the loosedust and other impurities carried thereby. Such impurities are carriedout of the device through the pipe I1.

The angularity of the partition 29 is adjustable by supporting thepartition upon side plates 39 which are connected to the opposite sidesof the machine by means of clamping bolts 40 passing through slots inthe side plates 39. As the side plates and the partition are adjustedthe hinged wall 3| of the conical receptacle swings about its pivot 32to follow the top of the battle 29. This adjustment of the partition 29serves to change the size of the channel I4 and also to some extent' theheight of the partition.

Of course, all of the tobacco thrown into the air screen from theshredder I will be washed or sluiced by the current of air flowingthrough the device and the stems due to their heavier weightwill'descend into the channel 14. The lighter tobacco leaves are drawnby the'air current, and due to the relatively extensive shape of theinterior of the apparatus between the portions designated by referencecharacters 23 and I1 and the decrease in the velocity of the aircurrent,

-will cause the leaves by their weight to descend into the trough 34.Certain other foreign matter as, for instance, feathers, parts ofpacking, string, etc., are impacted against the screen [6, which,however, permits the still light particles such as dust and the like topass through the interstices into pipe ll. These operations depend uponthe relation of the air flow to the weight of the respectiveconstituents. Of course, the screen l6 may be cleaned from time to time.The leaves are not impacted against screen I. Also it will be noted thatthespace generally indicated by I3, is such as to reduce the velocity,which enables the stems to drop into space M. The stems do not impactupon partition 23. In the lower constricted portion a current of air maytake place permitting the stems to drop but the leaves would be drawnupwardly.

While the figures of the drawing show only a longitudinal section of thedevice it is to be understood that the box 21 supporting the shredderhas as side plate I and a. corresponding opposite side plate which hasbeen removed for the purpose of illustration. The roller I and block 6are journaled in those opposite side plates. simi larly the chamber ofthe sorting and separating device is provided with a side plate 32 and alike opposite side plate not shown. It is to these opposite side platesthat the plates 39 of the partition 23 are'attached, likewise the vanesI! are journaled in the opposite side plates.

The size or-the chamber, height of the partition, mesh of the screen itand strength oi the induced air current-are proportioned to permit theinachine'to operate as described.

Between the bottom otthe partition II and the side of the chamber l8,containing the vanes I8, is located a bracing plate I! which is iastenedto the opposite side plates 42 and which serves to reinforce the deviceand strengthen the struc ture including the chamber It. This plate iscut away at the end nearest the partition 2! to permit adjustment '0!this member to vary the size of the channel ll.

:It will be seen that by the induced air flow into the separator andsorter and due to the,rela- I tionship oi velocity to weight, separation.is brought about. a

Reference is made to my co-pending application, Serial No. 98,917, filedSeptember 1, 1936, for Separating devices. p

It is obvious thatvariouschanges and modi-. fications may be made in thedetailsot construction and design of the above specifically describedembodiment of this invention without departing from the spiritthereoi,such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a tobacco sorting and separating device for shredded tobacco,comprising a housing hav-v ing a front wall, a partition arrangedtransverse ly in said housing and extending from the lower part of thehousing towards the upper part thereof in an unbroken wall andconverging to the said front housing'wall to i'orma compartment, theuppermost end of the partition forming with the uppermostwall or. thehousing -a narrow- .channel, an air inlet at one end of thesaid com- Hpartment for the entrance 01 air to said compart-- ment, said airinletbeing arranged in proximity. to the lower-end oi the partition andserving to admit air and as .a discharge for heavy tobacco particles, aconduit having its lower enddn registration with such-air inlet,said-conduit being formed by said partition, the walls of the housingand a separatewall, the partition and the front wall oi,-th e housingforming the compartment conver ng in respect to each other towards thenarro channelto enable streams of air of dif'-' ggflferent velocities tobe formed in the compartment, an air outlet at the other end or thehousing, means at said. outlet end for producing induced streams of airthrough said compartment beginning at the air inlet oi'the conduit,means 55 for supplying shredded particles oi tobacco into the inducedair streams of, said compartment,

- and means-tor removing the particles discharged into said narrowchannel whereby the tobacco particles in the compartment heavier thanthose capable of being drawn upwardly over the partition descend throughsaid airinlet and out of the conduit, other particles in thecompartmentare subjected to various air velocities-and those particlescapable oi being drawnup by the induced air over the partition descendto the removing means th'ereoffi 1 2. In a tobacco sorting and:separating device for shredded tobacco, comprising a housing having afront wall, a partition arranged transversely in said housing andextending 'iromthe. lower part of the housing towards the upper-partthereof in an unbroken wall dividing the housing into twocompartments,-said partition being upwardw ly and rearwardly inclined,the upper-mosh end 75 oi the partition forming with the uppermosttition, the walls or the housing said means having oithe'housing anarrow channel, anair inlet in one compartment at one end oi the housingior supplying air to said compartment. said -air'inlet being arranged ii-proximity to the lower end of the partition. and serving to admitairand as a discharge for :heavy tobacco particles, a conduit 'havingits lowerend in registration with such air inlet, said conduit beingiormedby said par; and a separate wall, the partition and the irontwailo! the hous- 1 ing iorming the first compartment converging in respectto each other towards-the narrow'channel to enable streams or air ordifierent'velocities to be formed in the first compartment, an airoutlet at the other end of the housing and in the second compartment,means at said outlet end tor-producing induced streams of air throughboth compartments beginning at the air inlet of the conduit, means 101throwing shredded particlesof tobacco into the inducedair streams, itsdischarge above the air. inlet channel, and means in the.second-compartment for removing the particles entering'into saidcompartment, whereby the tobaccoparticles in the first compartmentheavier than those capable of being drawn upwardly over the partitiondescend through said air inlet and out of the conduit,-other particlesin the first compartmentare subjected to various air velocities, andthose particles capable of being drawn up by the induced a air over thepartition enter the second compartment anddescend to the removingmeansthereoi'.

- 3. In a tobacco machine, a shredder for leaf tobacco, a sorting andseparating deviceior the shredded tobacco, said shredder; comprising arotatable comb, a shredding roller rotatable in the opposite directionfrom the comb and having spikes fitting between the teeth of said comband having wiping smite-ment therewith, said comb being adapted to holda tobacco leaf and said roller being adapted .to tear the leaf so held,a grating over said shredding roller extending between said shredder andsaid sorting and separating device so that rotation oi. said rollerthrows-'shredded tobacco into said device, a grating beneath said comband shredding roller to permitpassage or dust and impurities from thetobacco being shredded to a position outside of theshredder; saidsorting and separating device having a chamber. means for producing astream or airfiowing through the chamber from end toend, said gratingover the shredding roller being at the intake end of said stream or air,means in the chamber for sorting out heavier shredded tobacco thrownthereinto bysaid shredding roller, and means in the chamber forseparating lighter shredded tobacco from the' stream '01811:

4. In a shredded tobacco sorting andseparat ing device, thecombination-oi a member with blades thereon, said blades-being in oilsetrelation to each other intheir circular path oi movement,.and a secondmember withspikes thereon, said. spikes being inoii'set relation ,toeachotherin their circular path. or movement whereby upon the rotationof said members, a wiping interengagement of-both blades and spikestakes place by whichv the shredded tobacco between said spikes 'andblades is separated and cleaned from the same, the circular paths ofmovementof the 1. blades and spikes being so disposed that one,sideat ablade wipes one side oi a spike, and then the 5 other side of that bladewipes the oppositelside oi a next oiiset spike.

s. m a tobacco sortingvand a meja I I for shredded tobacco, having ahousing, a separated tobacco discharge means, and an induced air meansfor said housing, the combination of .two walls, an outer and an innerwall, forming part of said housing, said outer and inner wallsconverging towards each other to form a narrow channel at their upperends, and said outer and inner walls diverging from each other to format their lower ends furthest spaced from each other, a wide opening, athird wall spaced from the lower end of the inner wall, the lower end ofthe said third wall forming with the lower end of the inner wall an airinlet, and a tobacco supply means bridging the lower end of the outerwall and the upper end of the third wall, at the widest distance of thediverging outer and inner walls, whereby upon air being drawn throughthe air inlet and through the tobacco supply means by induced air in thenarrow channel, air streams of difi'erent velocities are induced betweenthe outer and inner walls, and particles heavier than those capable ofbeing drawn upwardly descend along the inner wall, while thosesufficiently light are drawn along by their respective velocities to andthrough the narrow channel.

OSWALD ERICH EISSMANN.

